Computer games programmers in Huddersfield have been realising their electric dreams with a shoot-em-up smash hit.
Designers at software house Red Kite Games has been celebrating the success of their latest mobile and tablet game, Firefly Runner.
The all-ages cartoon creepy crawlies blaster was downloaded over 500,000 times within three weeks of its release.
And the sideways scrolling shooter has been enjoying hundreds of five-star reviews from gamers.
On the Google Play store Johnny Blaze wrote: “I love everything about it; music, graphics, sound effects, gameplay and the characters. The controls are great too. This is a must have.”
And on the Apple iTunes store Bassmasterfunk wrote: “The whole family is having great fun with the controls being very intuitive and simple – even grandad is enjoying playing. It’s a good job we’ve got more than one device.
“The characters and level backgrounds look fantastic and very slick.”
Red Kite, based at Huddersfield University’s 3M Buckley Innovation Centre in Firth Street, was founded two-and-a-half years ago by games designer Simon Iwaniszak.
Simon, a former developer for Rockstar Games, has worked on video game smashes such as Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption.
As well as producing its own titles, Red Kite takes on development work from games industry behemoths such as Activision, including on Call of Duty: Strike Team.
Simon also teaches video games design degree students at the university.
Former students Anthony Morris and Jonathan Lilley were talent-spotted by Simon who offered them posts across the road at Red Kite following their graduation.
Anthony and Jonathan helped develop Firefly Runner.
Simon said: “As I work with students I see the ones who are the emerging talent.
“For me, there is less of a risk because I have worked with these students throughout the year and I know who will potentially be a good fit for Red Kite. Anthony and Jonathan have been spectacular. And on top of this, the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre is a really nice working environment.
“It is very hard to predict how things are going to go, because the technology changes so quickly, but games are only going to keep getting bigger and better.”
Firefly Runner is available to download from Google Play and the Apple store.
Some 15% of revenues raised will be donated to the UK-based video games charities, GamesAid and SpecialEffect.
